Madhava Kandali

Literary works

Saptakanda Ramayana

Madhava Kandali is credited with the task of translating ‘Valmiki’s Ramayana into the Assamese language as early as the 14th century. The Assamese version of Ramayana conceptualized by Madhava Kandali is the first of its kind among all the regional languages of North and Northeast India. Although Madhava Kandali has written that “Saptakanda Ramayana podebandhi nibandhilo lambha parihari sarodhrite”, yet the “Adikanda” (first) and the “Uttarakanda” (last) cantos of his “Saptakanda” (seven cantos) Ramayana are not found. Therefore, in accordance with the advice of Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardeva, Mahapurush Madhavdev wrote “Adikanda” and Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardeva, wrote the “Uttarakanda” in order to compensate the lost cantos and thus completed the epic consisting of “Sapta Kanda” or seven cantos. Madhava Kandali has not translated the “Shlokas” (a couplet of Sanskrit verse) of valmiki Ramayana as it is. He instead abandoned some unnecessary verse narratives and long descriptive passages. He has written the Assamese Ramayana in a lucid and rhythmic pattern thus catering to the needs of the common Assamese people.He has also provided explanations for his inclusion of non-valmiki elements while composing the epic.

Srimanta Shankardeva designated him as Purva Kobi Apramadi (Peerless Bard of the Eastern Region). Moreover, Madhab Kandali is often acclaimed to be the “Kalidas of Assam”.

Devajit

Madhava Kandali is also credited to be the composer of another poetical work ‘Devajit’ where he portrays Lord Krishna as the greatest incarnation (avatar) of Lord Bishnu.